Bridle-rod.



MC ROBERTSON & LEE ROY ALBRITTON.

BRIDLE R00.

APPLICATION FILED 415 6.25. 915.

Pamm m 191".

1 t me.

BRIDLJEFROD.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application filed August 25, 1916. Serial No. 116,913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Mo RoBEnTsoN and LEE ROY ALBnrr'roN, citizens of the United States,'residing at Huntington, in the county of Angelina and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bridle rod and more particularly to a device for moving the points of a railway switch which may be adj usted for causing the switch points to properly contact with the rails so that they will be neither too tight nor too loose when in engagement with the rails.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a bridle rod that will be longitudinally adjustable for taking up the space that would be likely to occur between the switch points and the rails so that both of the switch points will, when the switch is operated, move to the proper position for presenting'a smooth and even surface for the wheel flange of the railway rolling stock when the same pass over the switch. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of a bridle rod which consists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, but durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devices of this character are ordinarily subj ected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention,

in which;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch showing the bridle rod applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the bridle rod. 1

Fig. 3 is a-transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of one of the adjustable members.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, wherein like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numerals 1 and 2 designate the main rails. The switch points 3 and 1 are arranged in the usual manner and adapted to engage and disengage with the main rails when the switch is operated. A. connecting arm 5 is provided at one end with a head 6 which is disposed at an angle to the main portion of the arm 5 and is provided with a plurality of apertures 7 for receiving one end of the operating link 8 which may be operated in the usual manner from one side of the railway. The connecting arm 5 extends under the main rail 2 and is provided with an enlarged portion 9 having a groove 10 for receiving the flange of the switch point 1. This enlarged portion 9 thereby forms a retaining flange for engaging the switch point and is provided with an opening 11 for receiving a bolt or other suitable fastening element for fastening the connecting arm to the switch point. The other end of the connecting arm 5 is bent at right angles and provided with a central opening 12 for receiving the adjusting arm 13. Inter mediate the ends of the connecting arm is'a lug 14: which is provided with an opening 15 in alinement with the opening 12 for receiving the adjusting member 13 the end of which is provided with screw threads 16. Mounted upon the screw threads, at each side of the lug 1 1 are the locking nuts 17 and 18 for fastening the rod 13 in adjusted position by moving the nuts into engagement with the lock 14 as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing. This adjustment permits the con necting arm and the adjusting arm 13 to be shortened or lengthened according to the v movement desired to be imparted to the switch points.

The end of the adjusting arm 13 is enlarged to provide a rail receiving portion 19 which extends under the main rail 1 and is provided with the retaining flange 20 having a groove 21 for receiving the inner flange of the switch point 3. A fastening bolt may be passed through the opening 22 in the retaining flange 20 for securing the switch point to the rail engaging portion 19.

The operation of the device is exactly the same as any switch operating rod and the adjusting structure is provided for moving the switch points toward each other or away from each other so that they will more properly engage the rails 1 and 2 when the switch becomes worn or is expanded or contracted from the changes in temperature.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durable bridle rod has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. We desire it to be understood however, that slight changes in the minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of I and provided with the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

We claim: 7

V l. A device of the character described comprising a connecting arm having one end provided with an angularly disposed head extended diagonally'with respect to the connecting arm and link, means for con necting'the link to any lore-determined point on the head, an adjusting arm provided with screw threads at one end and having a flange formed at its opposite end, means carried by the connecting arm for receiving the said ad usting arm, the said means including a lug through which the said adjusting arm is. extended, and nuts mounted on the adjusting arm in screw-threaded engagement therewith and engageable with the sides of the lug;

2. A device of the character described comprising a connecting arm having one an angularly disposed head extended diagonally with respect to the connecting arm and link, means for connectir g the link to any pre-determined point on the head, an adjusting arm provided with screw threads at one end and having a flange formed at. its opposite'end, means carried by'the connecting arm for receiving the said adjusting arm, the said means including a lug through which the said adjusting arm is extended nuts mountedon the adjusting arm in. scr'ew-.threaded engagement therewith and engageable with the sides of the lug, the said flange having a transverse groove formed therein, the flange also being provided with an opening and communicating with the said groove.

3. A device of the character described comprising a connecting arm having one end provided with an angular-1 y disposed head, an adjusting arm provided with screw threads at one end and having a flange 'formed at its opposite end, a lug formed intermediate the ends of the said connecting arm and receiving the screw threaded end of the said adjusting arm, the said adjusting arm carrying nuts engageable with the sides of the lug, the end of the said connecting arm, opposite to the said angularly (lisposed head, being bent at right angles and provided with an opening receiving the said adjusting arm.

4. A device of the character described comprising a connecting arm having one end; provided with an angularly disposed head, an adjusting arm provided with screw threads at one end and having a flange formed at its opposite end, a lug formed intermediate the ends of the said COIIDGCtillg arm and receiving the screw threaded end of the said adjusting arm, the said adjusting arm carrying nuts engageable with the sides of the lug, the end of the said connecting arm, opposite to the said angularly disposed head, being bent'at right angles and provided with an opening receiving the said adjusting arm, the said connecting arm having an enlarged portion arranged approximately midway between the said lug and the said angularly disposed head, the said onlarged portion having a transverse groove, thereby forming a retaining flange above the said groove.

In testimony whereof we allix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

MC ROBERTSON. LEE ROY ALBRITTON. Witnesses:

J. J. CoLLINs, Gno. J. GUY.

Gop ies ot thi-spatent may be'obta ined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 e Washington, D. C. 

